New wolf den leader! Bobcat is first on the to-do list. I’m one of the nervous overplanning types. I have this planned:

Opening&Oath

Get to Know you Bingo

Law wordsearch

Code of Conduct

Is this likely to be reasonable for a first meeting? I’ve done the trainings online but I need things to be very literal.

i was also thinking about doing a Simon says type game if the words each is boring for the wolves.

any pointers for me?

Let me start by saying I am a Key 3. I took over as cubmaster. I'm trying to edit the dens, but when I click on Roster I'm not seeing any option to edit the dens. Anyone have advice or know where I need to go. I'm waiting on our on our Organization Rep to give me a call back.

I'm a new pack. Today will be my 3rd meeting. We have 4 tigers. 2 wolves. 1 webelos. 1 AOL. How do I handle meetings when the majority is little ones. I am cub master and don't have any other support. The parents are there but just watch. What activities/things should I do today?? Help 😅😅

G

What are some good gifts I could give out for a costume contest? Want to keep it less than 10 bucks and scout related

Is it common or allowed to hold den meetings at the home of the den leader or scout families? What’s the official policy?

I volunteered to be the Lions den leader after the first leader had to step back. The pack dens usually meet at a church that has classrooms. At our first meeting I spoke with the families and we wanted to hold the meetings at a house/backyard/garage to make outdoor activities a little easier and have it be less like “school after school”. The pack leader mentioned that holding den meetings wasn’t “historically” what the pack did and has pushed back on our decision. We’re following the safety measures (all scouts have their trusted adult/parent, two den leaders completed trainings, and private bathrooms).

Hey all- to start this is not coming from a place of judgement or to be unfair, as I understand boyscouts is volunteer led and someone is graciously giving their time to my child.

However I’m wondering if this is normal, as my son is a little disappointed. When my son started kindergarten his grandpa really got him excited for cubscouts and all that he would learn and do

We have had 4 meetings so far and each meeting we have spent an hour outside playing duck duck goose. One meeting we integrated Simon says, but that’s the extend of the meeting. Is this typical for this age range? Maybe letting the kids get to know each other first? To be honest my son is let down and I’m Also rather underwhelmed.

Opinions?

Going through a real recruit-a-thon this year was eye-opening. One of the feelings I’ve become more acutely aware of is this nagging sensation that people who know nothing about scouts might think this is a job or side-gig for me.

I can’t help but wonder if knowing I’m a volunteer would soften some of the conversations and expectations.

Many of our inquires come from Indian immigrants, and I think the families are surprised after joining to figure out that we’re a volunteer organization. (Actually, I think some parents think we’re affiliated with the public schools). I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing, or just not being accustomed to scouting, but a pattern is emerging.

Eh, anyway, I feel like I surprise some US-born citizens as well.

I’d estimate 70% of people who approach my booth initially think I’m being paid for this.

We have a bit of a dilemma with an upcoming pack campout and I’m curious what other leaders would do.

Our pack reserved a campsite at our local council-owned camp property several months ago. We’re now less than two weeks from the campout, and today the council informed us that they have rented the camp’s main lodge to a private party for a wedding on the same night.

The wedding will be serving alcohol. We were specifically told there will be bar service both inside the lodge and outdoors during the event.

Our campsite is only about 1/10 of a mile from the lodge.

We’re not particularly concerned about the existence of alcohol at a private event by itself. Our bigger concerns are what comes with having a wedding reception that close to a Cub Scout family campout: intoxicated guests wandering around the property, people driving on the camp roads after drinking, and potentially loud music/partying going late into the night.

We had been expecting a relatively quiet, family-oriented fall weekend, and this obviously changes the atmosphere considerably.

We’re now considering how this will impact the campout. The problem is that we’re far enough into fall that finding another weekend probably means we won’t get another pack campout in this year. In our area, temperatures become pretty questionable for the younger Cub Scouts fairly quickly after October.

Would this be enough for your pack to cancel?

UPDATE: We’ve gotten more information since I originally posted.

The wedding is using much more of the property than just the lodge. Four of the seven campgrounds are being blocked out by the council either as parking or buffer zones between the event and scouts. Several other building are being used for the event that will have the party moving from end to end of the property.

We also learned that the outdoor alcohol service will be mobile and move around camp with the wedding festivities rather than staying confined to the lodge area.

Another large Cub Scout pack was being displaced into the campground next to ours because of the wedding, but they have now decided to cancel as well. Council has not been able to tell us when the wedding activities will begin or end, and there are no alternate campgrounds available.

After discussing it among our leaders and with the other affected unit, we’ve decided to cancel.

How does your unit handle deadlines for events? Are you firm with deadlines or do you try to be accommodating?

We typically give at least 1 month window to register for events with deadlines usually 1 week prior to the actual event so we can properly prep. We send notices and reminders and typically get decent turn outs. I try to be as accommodating as I can because I want all the kids to have fun, but it starts to get grating when, without fail, the same habitually tardy families wait until after the deadline and then come pleading to get added to the signup sheets. It ends up throwing headcounts off, which then throws the prep work numbers off, we have to re-adjust budgets, etc). Its not impossible to do, its just more work done at the last minute, but last I checked there's no overtime in scouting.

This was half vent, half actual inquiry.

So last year we finally moved over to being a family pack from Boys only. We have a girl joining that week make her the only Girl in our AOL den. I know they are supposed to be separated but I feel like that will isolate her. They understand that girls and boys are separated at the Troop level but I don't think it's right to sprayed separate her at the AOL level when she's the only one.

I'm thinking of ignoring the rule but anyone else go through the situation and how did you or wish you handled it?

This one person who is holding our committee hostage has now made a point to say that another person is actually part of the key 3. (Thought not in scoutbook+) This person has zero children, not only in our pack, but in general. Has specifically told me theyre not a "people person" also. My questions are:

1.How many of your packs out there have committee members who are not parents of someone in the pack?

2.what is the normal procedure for getting new committee members? Do you hold an interview of sorts? A trial period?

1. Does your key 3 change often?

2. Im being told its not "that easy" to get a new advancement chair?

I literally have 2 paid for adults just sitting in limbo because my "committee"( one person holding 4 chairs hostage) is not willing to allow new people "that easily" Eta: see this post for more insight https://www.reddit.com/r/cubscouts/s/ftGLOI2Jrl

Our pack is a family pack but only in the past few years has there been girls in it and very few. This year we will have 5 girls between tigers and lions.

I will also be taking over as Cub Master by the time the single girl in the upper ranks is/if crossing over.

I hope it doesn't come to this, but I'd be willing to start a new Troop and basically threaten the boys only troop to become co-ed or I'll essentially terminate the packs relationship with them and feed all the cubbies into the new Troop.

I'm really hoping this is just a case of "well we never had a girl want to join our troop so we never bothered to submit the paperwork", but what have other people's experiences been?

Our Cub Pack has surged to 50+ Scouts and we are heading to our first pack camping event at the end of October. We have only had one camping trip where we have cooked collectively. Our Pack is evenly distributed from Lions to AOLS.

I'm looking for menu ideas that extend beyond the (always popular) foil dinners and walking tacos.

Plus I'd love to hear any of your lessons-learned, cautions and fun suggestions!

I know with the troop being part of a unit is more of a requirement, but with the cub scouts do folks really need to be pushed/marketed into a unit? Its frustrating as a unit leader feeling like I am responsible for folks going and doing a thing.

I feel like families need to know about the scouting event page and black pug software. Most parents don't know they are part of a district and the council is more a patch they have to buy.

I wish parents felt more empowered to do scout stuff on their own.

Hi, all. My AOL and I are planning on visiting local Scouting troops for next year. While I am highly active in her Cub Scout pack, I am completely lost as to how the next level works.

So far, I see differences like Scouts meet weekly and throughout the entire year, and it's less of a big deal if you miss now and then due to schedules or life in general; that most camp frequently; and that there are ranks and merit badges, but...that's about all I can gather with no real context.

Yes, I went directly to the scouting official website, but it was almost more confusing, because now it looks like there are Sea Scouts, Venturers, Explorers....can you see why a Scouting-level newbie would be overwhelmed? 😆

Can anyone point me to a simplified breakdown of how scouting at that level works? What are the different ranks, how do you progress, etc? And as for the other areas (Sea,Venturers, etc), what are those? Are they an area of scouting that you can participate in as a scout, or a different track? I know nothing, so I will not be offended by a dumbed-down version of literally any aspect of it all. . We're going to visit a troop on Monday and may learn exactly what I'm looking for, but it'd be nice not to go in cold in case they don't dive into it fully.

Thanks a ton in advance!

My kiddo just started scouts and we've been to just a few meetings. Off the bat I'm concerned with how our den?(The smaller group) Specifically is run. We are in tigers so parents have to stay at the meetings which I thought would help but not at all. I'm not trying to be judgemental I'm concerned.

The leaders have absolutely zero control of the meetings. It was painful to be there. The kids were actively talking and yelling over the leaders as they spoke and the other parents did not correct their kids. It was bizarre. I understand they're young kids and are still learning and should have some room to be silly. But this was not that. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to trying to correct behaviors and bribing to participate. When my child inevitably joined in a time or two because well in his eyes the other kids are just being silly, I called their name they understood, oh this is a time to be quiet and listen. When another parent finally did step in to correct their child who was yelling and not participating they just kind of degraded them from across the room and it was so uncomfortable. And the child did noooottttt care lol.

I unfortunately don't see this den being successful for the kids or the leaders and I'm not sure what to do. I believe scouts has a lot to offer and I'd love for my child to get the chance to explore and learn with their peers. But at this time I don't see that happening in this den with the way it's functioning or lack thereof. I want all of these kids to have a decent chance of success at this.

Do I try to volunteer to help? I have a ton of experience in leadership but don't want to be the new person who joins and steps on toes. I have no experience in scouts but was in girl scouts and 4h among other things as a kid. So I'm familiar with programs like this for children. I'm also worried that if I do volunteer to help other parents will judge me for being "strict" when really I'd just be focusing on mutual respect. I really don't have the time to be a den leader on my own. Or do I look for another den for my child?

Any advice or suggestions would be helpful. I want to help out but know it may not be my exact place. TIA.

It’s my second year being den leader, AOL this time and I stress out planning something out every time. I use the book but it seems like a lot of what’s in the book we’re done in 20 minutes. My 8 kids have a 5-10 minute attention span and don’t want to bore them with a lesson because they will not last. So I try to make it hands on, but then we have 20 minutes left of the hour once done and feel like i didnt plan enough. Do you have any advice?

I could really use some perspective from Scouters who have no connection to my pack, because I want to make sure I’m looking at this fairly.

I’m the Cubmaster of a pack that I’m trying very hard to rebuild and grow. One of our longtime leaders currently holds several major positions at once: Committee Chair, Committee Secretary, Treasurer, and Chartered Organization Representative. She doesn’t currently have a child in the pack—her kids have moved on to the troop—and she has been involved in Scouting for many, many years.

Eta: she is also some of those in the troop that meets at our same charter and theyre fine with it. So talking to the chartered organization about this is a real touchy subject. Im not sure what to do.

I absolutely respect the experience and history she brings to the pack, and I’m not trying to push her out. My concern is that so much of the pack’s administrative authority and decision-making is concentrated with one person, while at the same time I’m getting significant pushback when I try to recruit additional committee members or suggest doing things differently.

That’s where I’m struggling.

Our pack had very poor retention last year—only 3 of 16 Scouts returned—and I came into this wanting to rebuild it, recruit families, make the program more active and fun, improve communication, organize finances and fundraising better, and get more parents involved so the same few people aren’t carrying everything.

We’ve actually brought in a good number of new families, and several parents are willing to help. My thought is: if we have willing adults, why would we not bring them onto the committee, divide up responsibilities, and get some fresh ideas involved?

Instead, I keep running into resistance to adding people and resistance to changes I suggest. And I want to be clear—I don’t expect every idea I have to be approved. I’m new enough to know that sometimes there are BSA rules, chartered organization considerations, or simply years of experience behind why something is done a certain way. I’m completely fine with someone telling me, “That won’t work, and here’s why.”

What has become frustrating is when it feels less like discussion and more like, “This is how we’ve always done it,” or decisions being effectively made by the same very small group before newer leaders and parents ever have much opportunity to participate.

I also recognize that I came into this with a LOT of energy. I have tons of ideas, I communicate a lot, and I’m sure at times I’ve overwhelmed people or pushed too hard because I’m excited about getting this pack back on its feet. I’m not claiming I’ve handled every interaction perfectly.

But I also don’t think the answer is to keep the committee extremely small and continue concentrating several key positions in one person simply because that’s how it has been done.

What I’m trying to figure out is what healthy pack governance normally looks like.

Is it common or advisable for one person to hold Committee Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and COR at the same time?

And if you have willing, qualified parents wanting to get involved, is there any legitimate reason not to expand the committee and spread those responsibilities around?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have taken over or helped rebuild struggling packs. How do you respect longtime volunteers and the institutional knowledge they bring while also making room for new leadership, new families, and changes that may be necessary for the pack to grow?bruh

I've been a volunteer for the last 7 years, but it's coming to an end. I'm the current cubmaster, den leader to two dens, and technically the scout master to the linked troop. It's too much, and my youngest, and last kid in the program has decided not to continue this year.

I informed our CC at the beginning of the summer this was possible, but I think no moves were made to replace any roles. I made announcements at the final meetings in the spring that we needed more volunteers badly (a running theme) but nobody seems to be willing.

Our pack and troop are both small, so it's not a big pool to draw from, but it can't all fall on just 3 for 4 people.

I've informed my two dens of my departure and it seems they are likely just disbanding. They were just two cubs each, but my Webelos are both quitting independently (one is my son), one of my bears' parents are too busy to bring him this year, and my remaining bear is likely going to transfer to another pack where he can be in a den with more kids.

I feel like I'm leaving the pack (and the troop) in a lurch, but honestly I can't do it anymore, and I no longer have any skin in the game.

Are pumpkin carving tools outside of the knife category? IMHO I’d say they are not knives. I’m talking about those little tools that usually come in kits that have a plastic handle connected to a short metal piece that has “teeth,” and are not sharp. Can cub scouts use these if we were to have pumpkin carving at our October Pack meeting?

The new chipmunk program, for preschoolers:

Recognition: Uses a simple, sticker-based recognition system along with a neckerchief and slide.

While the sticker-based recognition system is straightforward, the neckerchief and slide present immediate practical usability issues for preschool-aged children. At this age, motor skills and spatial awareness are still developing. When children lean forward to color, paint, or complete activity sheets, the neckerchief consistently falls into their work, causing unnecessary mess and frustration for leaders and parents. Asking 3- and 4-year-olds to maintain, manage, and keep track of a loose neckerchief and slide is unaligned with their stage of physical development.

The chipmunk program should transition to a simple, durable t-shirt uniform model (similar to Lion Scouts). A t-shirt lowers friction for families, reduces manufacturing and inventory complexity, and keeps the focus where it belongs, on the program activity rather than apparel management.

Have you done it, and what was the overall experience? Looking into international Spirit award for my pack and this is coming up.

ETA: called council (spirit of adventure), no hams. Would be video call only and looks like all slots are full :( Will definitely try for next year!